Odometer mechanism



D 10,1929. J, BERGE 1,738,558

ODOMETER MECHAHISM Filed Nov. 14'. '1921 llml Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UNITED STATES lPATENT OFFICE JOSEPH BERGE, OF FLINIT, HI'CHIGAN, ASSIGNOB T0 A C SPARK PLUG CO., OF FLI'NT,l

MICHIGAN, A COMPANY OF MICHIGAN ODOMETER MECEANISH Application led November 14, 1921. vSerial No. 514,990.

The invention relates to counting or computing instruments, such, for example, as odometers, and more specifically to the construction of countin ments.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified construction ofnumber wheel embodying transfer and driving elements which elements `are 'capable of being formed from sheet mateial by stamping or like operations.

A further object is to provide an improved construction whereby the wheels of a train are suitably supported in spaced `relation and maintained in proper alignment.

A further object is to provide an improved construction of metal reinforced number wheel or indicating element for use in odometers, or the like.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingI drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section and with parts omitted, showing a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is 'an elevation of'a portion of the mechanism taken from the right side in Figure 1.

` Figures 3, 4 and 5 are perspective views, respectlvely, of the carry-element, the body or which together constitute one of the number wheels.

1 indicates a shaft carried in suitable bearings and driven by any desired means such as speedometer mechanism, adding machine parts, or the like. This shaft has mounted thereon a plurality of wheels o f which the one at the extreme right, in the `construction shown, is a unit wheel the others being of higher orders. Each of the wheels compris/es a hollow cylindrical body'2 stamped or otherwise provided with' the numerals 0 to 9, inclusive, together with a disc-like face plate 3, preferably of metal, perforatedasat 4'to receive projections or studs 5 formedon the body, so that the body and the face turn as a single wheel. The face plates 3 are each slitted substantially radially and inwardly from or number wheels andv associated devlces or use 1n such instru-A the edge at two points and the portion be- I tween the slits is offset from the plane of the disc and cut away centrally-to form a single notch 6 having a tooth'' on each side thereof, the gear teeth thus formed being offset from the plane of the disk suiliciently to engage both sets of teeth 16 and 17 hereinafter re erred to. The wheels at the left differ from the unit wheel in that'they are each additionally provided Iwith a face plate 8 toothed throughout its circumference and attached to the. body by projections 9, similar to the projections 5, fitting in perforations 10. One or both of the plates 3, 8, have their central portions offset or dished outwardly from the body portion 2, both plates being so shown in the drawing, as'indicated at 3', 8', thus providing spacing means whereby the number wheels are maintained at the proper distance apart when assembled upon the shaft 1. Both plates are also centrally apertured, as indicated at 11, 12 on the respective plates 3, 8, which apertures are of a size corresponding to that of shaft 1 so that the face plates serve as supporting means whereby the Wheels are slidably and rotatably mounted upon the said shaft. v

Thebody 2 is formed with a central aperture, as indicated at 2', of considerably greater diameter than the shaft 1. The body of the Wheel is therefore supported in spaced numbered element and the driven element relation to the shaft, the bearing surface beling *confined to the metal edges surrounding ,the khigher denominations especially, which .may

be moved oftener than once in years of se vice.

' The body 2 will bemolded preferably of a substance possessing some plasticity when heated, such, for example, as celluloid or other of the nitrated cellulosic derivatives.

In assembling the body lportion 2 and the .face plate-s 3 and 8, the plates are forced down over the projections 5, 9, the

proj ections being designed to have a close t with the perforations. .The ends of the studs or projections 5, 9, may then be'spun or riveted over, as indicated at 13, to fit` countersinks 14 at the outer ends of the perforations, thus v securing the parts of the wheel in assembled relation; When the body portion is of material capable of bein easily softened by heat, as one ofthe plastlc compositionsabove referredl to, the spinning over may be easily accomplished by reason of the softening vof the material due to mere friction between the projections and the tools, although the latter ma be heated if desired.

he wheel of the lowest order, in this case the unit wheel, is secured to the shalt 1 in such a manner as to rotate therewith at the same speed, but the wheel of the higher order is free to turn on the shaft, being normally prevented from such movement y pinions mounted to turn on the shaft 15 and having alternate wide and narrow teeth 16 and 17, preferably three and six in number, respectively, the teeth 16 being adapted to both ride on the circumferential face of the elef ment 3 and engage with the teeth of the element .8, while the teeth 17 are arranged to l 20 which may mesh with-trhe teeth ofthe element 8 only. For each complete turn of a wheel of the lower order, the wheel of the higher order is given a" tenth or fractionalturn, in amanner well understood in lthe art.

It will be noted that the number Wheels as disclosed herein are capable of being easily and cheaply roduced by simple machine o'perations. The offsetgear teeth 6 may be formed by being merely stamped from the material of the disk or plate 3', while the spacing and bearing means is similarly produced from the sheet material constituting .the disks or plates themselves.- Variations in detailsI of construction and processes of manufacture maybe made, however, with# out departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. v

Inasmuch as there is/more lor less back-lash or lack of fit between the several parts; it follows that the cumulative movement miglit be such, in ksets of considerable numbers of wheels, as to cause a. noticeable lack of ali ment of the numbers, in other words, 't at' in the changefsay from an indication of 9999 -to one of 10000. the ten thousands .wheel would receive the smallestw angular turn, the movement increasing progressively to the initial or units wheel, so that the figures making up the indication of 10000 would appear in a helical line of small pitch. For this reason I preferably provide a spring be ofthe hellcal type mounted on the pin or shaft 21, or otherwise, and arranged with its end 22 anchored to the sup- ]port 24 and with its other end normally engaging at 25 and26 with two of the Jteeth 16. The form of the spring and the manner of applying it to the pinion are, of course,-

subgect tti-variation, but the construction shown is both simple and desirable. During the change of indication'above noted, the first movement is in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 2, into the helical relation stated, after which a continued drive causes the carry wheel under the sp1-ing 20 to turn thereby further tensioning the sprin and ex'- erting a drag on the whole set; t e turning movement continuing, the rear tooth 16 passes over dead center whereupon the spring 20 snapsl the set of wheels progressively forward to finally establish alignment of the numbers. The final engagement of the vspring wi'th two teeth, 16, as shown, serves to lock the set against further movement.

I claim:

1. The process of forming a number wheel comprisin forming a body portion of a nonmetallic pistic composition capable' of being softened under the infiuence of heat with projections extending laterally from the faces of the body, assembling said portionfwith disks on each side thereof with the projections extending into perforations in said disks, softening the said projections by a plication of heat thereto and expanding said projections while in softened condition to secure the disks and body together. 2. An indicating wheel comprising an annular body portion having projections integral therewith extending from opposite sides thereof, and two sheet metal disks, one on.

each side of said body Iportion and having .apertures in -which said projections are seate to secure vsaid disks, to said body ortion, each of said disks havin central aring portions whereby the whee may be'supported upon a shaft.

3. An indicating wheel for odometers and the like comprisingl a hollow cylindrical body portion adapted to receive indicia and composed of a cellulosic derivative capable of being softened by heat, said body having integral studs projeetingfrom the sides thereof, a sheet metal disk on each side of said body having apertures in which said studs are seated and expanded to retain the partsv in assembled relation, said disks having centrai bearings adapted Vto support the wheel on a shaft. v

In testimony whereof I aliix my si ature.

JOSEPH BE GE. 

